Image processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A signal processing apparatus, the operation of which is controlled by a remote controller, designates procedure for reproducing an image signal stored on a recording medium; allocates a reproduction function corresponding to the designated reproduction procedure to the operating key of the remote controller; generates reproduction management data that includes operating key information indicating the operating key to which the reproduction function is allocated, and reproduction procedure information indicating the designated reproduction procedure; and writes the reproduction procedure management information to the recording medium.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a signal processing apparatus, and moreparticularly to the setting up of procedure for the reproduction ofimage signals.

BACKGROUND ART

A digital broadcasting system has been developed that can transmitmultiplexed digital video and audio information and data broadcastinginformation (including still image data), and can display data withsynchronization between the video data and the audio data.

For example, with the BS digital broadcasting system employed in Japan,a stream of digital video data and audio data is compressed and encodedusing MPEG-2 to provide an MPEG-2 transport stream, which is transmittedas packets. Furthermore, still image data, such as advertisement data,are compressed and encoded in accordance with the JPEG standards to beformed into packets, and these packets are repetitively transmittedusing the Data Carousel method.

A television receiver separates the packet data into video data, audiodata and data broadcasting data, and decodes the video and audio data toobtain the original images and sounds. In addition, the televisionreceiving apparatus decodes the data broadcasting data in accordancewith its form.

Also, a high vision compatible plasma television, having a displayresolution equal to or higher than 1280×720 pixels, has been produced asa display device to be used for the television receiver, and the displayresolution and the number of bits (the pixel values) are diversifying.

As apparatuses for handling video signals, digital cameras that employCCDs to obtain images have taken the place of conventional silver halidephotographic cameras and have been practically employed. Since thedigital camera stores, as digital data, images obtained into memorymedia, such as semiconductor memories, and since such media can beeasily transported, image data stored therein can be easily transferredto personal computers for display or printing.

In addition, a digital television receiver is available that is equippedwith a card slot into which a memory card, on which image data obtainedby a digital camera are stored, can be inserted and that displays on atelevision screen images read out from the memory card.

Furthermore, there may be a case wherein, for a system that employs ahigh-performance television that can receive a digital broadcast, todisplay digital image data obtained by a digital camera, slides showingreproduction procedure, or a specific display layout, are arbitrarilyset up and displayed.

However, even when the order for the display of such the slides is setup, the information for this setup is not stored, and the setup must berepeated when digital image data stored on the same memory card are tobe displayed by another television receiver.

That is, the display order, the display layout and the remote controlmethod must again be set up, and this is very tiresome requirement.

Further, since generally only one plane (a still image plane) of a videomemory is used by a television receiver for the display of a stillimage, the writing to video memory of the data of an image must bedelayed until the display of a preceding slide has been completed.Therefore, each time slides are changed, the display of a new image isdelayed by a time period required to write the next slide data into thevideo plane.

As another vexing problem, since the management of the video planes oftelevision receivers differ depending on the broadcast receptionstandards adopted by individual nations, the worldwide display ontelevisions of digital image data, such as may be obtained by a specificdigital camera, is not possible.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is one objective of the present invention to resolve the abovedescribed problems.

It is another objective of the present invention to enable the easysetup of the image signal reproduction procedure for an apparatuscontrolled by a remote controller.

To resolve the above problems and to achieve these objectives, accordingto one aspect of the present invention, the present invention proposes asignal processing apparatus operated by a remote controller, comprising:

a designation unit arranged to designate the reproduction procedure ofimage signals recorded on a recording medium;

a management data processing unit arranged to allocate, to an operatingkey of the remote controller, a reproduction function that correspondsto the designated reproduction procedure, and generate reproductionprocedure management information that include operating key informationwhich indicate the operating key to which the reproduction function isallocated, and reproduction procedure information which indicate thedesignated reproduction procedure; and

a recording unit arranged to record the reproduction proceduremanagement information on the recording medium.

Other objectives and features of the present invention will becomeapparent during the course of the following detailed description, givenfor the embodiments of the invention while referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a television broadcastreceiving system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation for setting up theprocedure for the reproduction of image data;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display picture screen after thereproduction procedure is set up;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example display layout;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a remote controller;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the directories of a memory card;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of a registration file;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of a display proceduremanagement file;

FIG. 9 which is composed of FIGS. 9A and 9B, a flowchart showing theoperation performed when slides are reproduced;

FIG. 10 which is composed of FIGS. 10A and 10B, a flowchart showing theoperation performed when slides are reproduced; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the essential configuration of a televisionreceiver according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwhile referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a digital televisionsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.1, digital television receivers (hereinafter referred to simply asreceivers) 100 and 150 have the same configuration, and are connectedacross the Internet I.

Also in FIG. 1, an antenna 101 is used to receive a television signaltransmitted by a broadcast satellite or by a broadcasting radio wave,such as a ground wave. A tuner 102 converts into a digital signal atelevision signal received at the antenna 101, demodulates modulatedimages and sounds, and converts obtained video and audio data into anMPEG-2 transport stream. A bus 103 is used to transfer still image dataand various control data. A demultiplexer 104 separates a receivedtransport stream into compressed video data packets, compressed audiodata packets and data broadcast packets.

An AV decoder 105 decodes video signals and audio signals obtained bythe demultiplexer 104. A graphic processing unit 106 converts thedisplay format (the number of pixels, the frame frequency, or thescanning method) of video data received from the AV decoder 105, ormanages the plane of still image data received from a CPU 109, via thebus 103, and draws images to superimpose on the still image data thevideo data received from the AV decoder 105.

A video memory 107 is used to store video data and still image datadisplayed on a display device 108. The display device 108, on whichvideo data is displayed, includes a loudspeaker for outputtingtelevision broadcast sounds. The CPU 109 controls the individualsections of the receiver 100, and has a function of decoding ofcompressed still image data using software. Further, the CPU 109incorporates a RAM for an execution of program and storing of temporarydata.

A writable flash ROM 110 is used to store the program used for the CPU109 and data of a display resolution and the number of colors relativeto each layout number, which will be described later. A card interface111 is used to transfer data stored on a memory card M to the CPU 109. Astorage unit 112 stores digital broadcast data and image data read outfrom the memory card M, and can be an arbitrary form, such as a harddisk drive, a DVD-RAM or a semiconductor memory.

An infrared ray receiving unit interface 113 receives infrared ray datafrom a remote controller 114 and converts that data into an electricsignal. The remote controller 114 is employed by a user to select agraphics display button while watching the display screen of the displaydevice 108 or to select a television channel.

A modem router 115 permits the exchange of data between the Internet Iand the receiver 100. This modem router 115 is changed depending on theinfrastructure connected to the Internet I. For example, when a cable isconnected, the modem router 115 is a cable modem router, and when anADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) using a telephone line isconnected, the modem router 115 is an ADSL modem router.

An explanation will now be given for an operation wherein the receiver100 sets the procedure for reproducing image data stored on the memorycard M.

First, an explanation will be given for the processing wherein thereceiver 100 sets up procedure for reproducing image data stored on thememory card M, and stores the procedure on the memory card M.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the CPU 109 ofthe receiver 100 when setting up the reproduction procedure.

In FIG. 2, when a reproduction procedure setting process is instructedby the remote controller 114, first, the CPU 109 confirms that thememory card M is inserted into the memory card slot of the cardinterface 111 (step S201). Then, the CPU 109 reads out thumbnail imagedata from a digital image data file stored on the memory card M, andtransmits the thumbnail image data through the bus 103 to the graphicprocessing unit 106. The graphic processing unit 106 generates thedisplay picture screen in FIG. 3, based on the thumbnail image data, andtransmits the display picture screen to the display device 108 (stepS202).

The structure of a file on the memory card M is shown in FIG. 6. Under aroute directory 601 of the memory card M, there are directories DCIM 602and LAYOUT 607, and under the DCIM 602, there are severalsub-directories 603, 604 and 605. Under each of the sub-directories 603to 605, there are image files 606, which include video and audio dataobtained by a digital camera or a digital video camera, and thumbnailimage data. A plurality of image files 606 may be located under thedirectory 603 or may be located under the other directories 604 and 605.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example picture screen display ofthumbnail images. In this embodiment, as is shown in FIG. 3, a list ofthumbnail images 301 to 308 of image data read out from the memory cardM is displayed, and a cursor frame is provided to highlight one of thedisplayed thumbnail images. In the example in FIG. 3, the added cursorframe is positioned around the image 305; however, by manipulating thedirection keys on the remote controller 114, a user can move the cursorframe in four directions of up, down, right and left.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example configuration for the remotecontroller 114. In FIG. 5, the remote controller 114 comprises a powerkey 501, direction keys 502, a decision key 503, a menu key 504 andnumber keys 505.

The key code of an operating key manipulated on the remote controller114 is output by the remote controller 114 and received by the infraredray receiving interface 113, and is then transmitted to the CPU 109. TheCPU 109 identifies the key code (up, down, right or left) and, inaccordance with the key code, transmits to the graphic processing unit106 drawing data which includes the cursor frame that is moved.

When the list of thumbnail images 301 to 308 is displayed in thismanner, the CPU 109 resets the value held by the internalnumber-of-registration register (step S203).

Then, when the decision key 503 on the remote controller 114 ismanipulated, it is ascertained that the thumbnail image whereat thecursor frame is currently positioned is selected (step S204) and thevalue held by the number-of-registration register is incremented by one(step S205). Subsequently, the file name of the still imagecorresponding to the selected thumbnail image is temporarily stored inthe internal RAM (step S206).

Following the manipulation of the decision key 503, the CPU 109,controls the graphic processing unit 106 to display a thick frame forthe selected thumbnail image to indicate that a selection is made, andto display a message 309, “Wish to register?”. In FIG. 3, the images 301and 303 are selected, and the message 309 is displayed.

When a user who has completed the selection of all desired thumbnailimages moves the cursor to the location of the message 309 andmanipulates the decision key 503, the CPU 109 reads out from the RAM thevalue held by the number-of-registration register, selects a displaylayout that corresponds to the value, and reads banner information fromthe flash ROM 110 (steps S207 and S208). Furthermore, the CPU 109 readsout from the memory card M the image data of the file name stored in theRAM, and transmits the image data to the AV decoder 105. Thereafter, theAV decoder 105 decodes the image data and outputs the thus obtained datato the graphic processing unit 106, and the graphic processing unit 106displays that image data in accordance with the selected display layout(step S209). The CPU 109 further transmits to the graphic processingunit 106 the image data of a confirmation screen that is used todetermine whether an image should be registered, to display the imagedata.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example registration screen for thedisplay layout.

For example, when the thumbnail images 301, 303 and 305 in FIG. 3 areselected, the number of registered screens is three. And since thenumber of registered picture screens is three, the CPU 109 selects, fromamong multiple sets of display layout data that are stored in the flashROM 110, one of display layout data for which the number of displayedpicture screens is three. In FIG. 4, a display layout is selectedwherein, to display on the screen the images selected in FIG. 3, the twoimages 301 and 303 are arranged at upper positions 401 and 402 and theimage 305 is arranged at a lower position 403.

In FIG. 4, buttons 406 and 407, together with a message 408 of “Wish toregister display layout?”, are displayed, and a user, upon deciding thatthe current display layout is satisfactory, employs the remotecontroller 114 to move the focus to the button 406 and manipulates thedecision key 503 (step S210).

When, however, the user decides that the display layout is notsatisfactory, he or she employs the remote controller 114 to move thefocus to the button 407 and manipulates the decision key 503. The CPU109 then selects, from among the display layout data stored in the flashROM 110, an other one of the layouts for which the number of displaypicture screens is three, and controls the graphic processing unit 106to use this layout for the display of the images (step S211).

In this embodiment, as is shown in FIG. 4, images 404, representingdisplay layout choices are displayed on a confirmation screen. In theexample in FIG. 4, four different layouts 1 to 4 are provided as displaylayout choices, and layout 2 is selected. Under these conditions, eachtime the button 407 is manipulated the CPU 109 reads out layout data forthe next choice from the flash ROM 110, and changes the display picturescreen. Furthermore, the display images can be replaced, and when a usermoves the focus to one of the display images 401, 402 or 403, andmanipulates the decision key 503, the image at the current displayposition can be replaced by an image at a different display position.

In this embodiment, when images are displayed in accordance with eachdisplay layout, images 405 are also displayed that represent functionsallocated to the operating keys of the remote controller 114 tocontrolling the display operation. Further, as will be described later,in this embodiment data for the operating key codes are generated foreach display layout (slide).

When an instruction for the registration of a display layout is issuedat step S210, the CPU 109 generates a registration file and areproduction procedure management file on the basis of the registeredfile name and the selected display layout data, as will be describedlater, and stores these files in the internal RAM (step S212).

Furthermore, when the registration of a display layout is completed, theCPU 109 displays, on the display device 108, a screen used fordetermining whether the setting of the image data reproduction procedureusing another display layout should be continued. When it is ascertainedthat the setting of the reproduction procedure should be continued,program control returns to step S203 and the above described processingis repeated.

When the setting of the reproduction procedure is to be terminated, theCPU 109 reads out the registration file and the reproduction proceduremanagement file from the RAM, and controls the card interface 111 towrite these files in the LAYOUT directory 607 of the memory card M (stepS214).

In this embodiment, as is shown in FIG. 6, a registration file 608 and adisplay procedure management file 609 are stored in the LAYOUT directory607.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing the structures of the registrationfile and the display procedure management file.

In FIG. 7, the registration file is constituted with two sections, HDRand BASE, and multiple sets of parameter data are stored in eachsection.

Multiple BASE sections are present for each registered image file.

For example, in the registration file in this embodiment, as is shown inFIG. 7, a registration file ID, a file length, the number of sectionsand the number of parameters are written into the HDR section.

The BASE section includes a file name representing a registered imagefile, a registration file directory indicating a directory in the memorycard M whereat an image file is present, a layout No. for displaying aregistered image, a slide group ID representing a slide constituting onepicture wherein a registered image is displayed, a slide position No.representing the display position of a registered image on the slide,flag data used to indicate whether an optional setting is designated,and, optional information (X and Y data for the display position of aregistered image, SX and SY data of the display size, and display colorcount data CO).

Normally, the display position is unconditionally defined with a layoutNo. that represents the display layout; however, when the optionalsetting is designated, the display position, the size and the number ofcolors can be forcefully changed.

Each of the parameters may be formed either of bits having a fixedlength or of bits having variable lengths, and the structure isdetermined in advance by systems, or the CPUs of the systems adjust theparameters to match the version management.

In FIG. 8, the display procedure management file is constituted with twosections, HDR and SLIDE. An ID representing the display proceduremanagement file, a file length, the number of sections and the number ofparameters are written to the HDR section.

Parameters required for the constitution of a slide are written into theSLIDE section. In this embodiment, these parameters are a slide group IDfor designating a registered image file to be displayed on the slide,the number of registered files in the slide, the layout No. for theslide, and remote control code data that represent the reproductionfunctions of slides and the operational key codes for the remotecontroller 114, to which the reproduction functions are allocated.

In this embodiment, each time the registration for one display layout(slide) is issued at step S210 in FIG. 2, the CPU 109 generates data forone SLIDE section in FIG. 8, and controls a series of reproductionprocedure based on each SLIDE section by using a reproduction proceduremanagement file.

The reproduction operation performed in accordance with the thusdesignated reproduction procedure will now be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the reproduction operation performed bythe CPU 109. When a slide reproduction instruction is issued by theremote controller 114, the processing in FIG. 9 is started.

When the slide reproduction instruction is issued, first, the CPU 109resets the registers and variables in the internal RAM (step S901), andcontrols the card interface 111 to read out from the memory card M aregistered file and a reproduction procedure management file and storethese files in the internal RAM (step S902).

Then, in accordance with the value of a variable sn, indicating thecurrent SLIDE section (this value is 0 because it is reset at thefirst), the CPU 109 detects, from among the SLIDE sections stored in thereproduction procedure management file in FIG. 8, the slide group ID(GID) of the sn-th SLIDE section, and stores this slide group ID in thegroup ID register (step S903). The CPU 109 also detects the data of thelayout NO. of this SLIDE section, and stores the layout NO. data in thelayout register (step S904).

Following this, in order to detect an image to be displayed on thedisplay picture screen (slide) included in the SLIDE section, the CPU109 detects the slide group ID from a bn-th BASE section in accordancewith the value of a variable bn indicating the BASE section in theregistered file (step S905). Then, the CPU 109 compares this slide groupID with the value of the GID stored in the group ID register (stepS906). When these IDs have the same value, the CPU 109 ascertains thatthe current file is an image file to be displayed on the display picturescreen in the pertinent SLIDE section, and reads out from the BASEsection data such as the registered file name, the directory and thelayout position and stores in the RAM (step, S907).

Thereafter, the CPU 109 increments the variable bn by one (step S908),and compares the obtained bn value with a predetermined value SB-1,which is smaller by one than a number BN of BASE sections (step S909).When the bn value has not yet reached that of BN-1, program controlreturns to step S905 and the CPU 109 repeats the above processing.

Whereas when the bn value equals BN-1, the CPU 109 reads out an imagefile from the memory card M based on the data stored in the RAM at stepS907, and the AV decoder 105 decodes the thus obtained data andtransmits the decoded data to the graphic processing unit 106 (stepS910).

Next, the CPU 109 generates a display picture screen based on the layoutNo. and the remote control data and transmits to the graphic processingunit 106 (step S911). At this time, the CPU 109 starts the incorporatedtimer.

A picture screen according to the first SLIDE section in FIG. 8 is thendisplayed on the display device 108, and the CPU 109 determines whetherthe timer value exceeds a predetermined time T (step S912). When thepredetermined time T has elapsed, the CPU 109 increments the variable snby one (step S913), and compares the obtained variable sn with apredetermined value SN-1, which is smaller by one than a number SN ofSLIDE sections (step S914).

When the value of the variable sn has not yet reached SN-1, the CPU 109resets the internal timer (step S915) and returns to step S903,whereafter it repeats the above processing for the next SLIDE section.Otherwise, when the value of the variable sn equals SN-1, the CPU 109ascertains that the series of reproduction procedure has been completedfor all the SLIDE sections and halts the display.

When at step S912 the predetermined time T has not yet elapsed, the CPU109 determines whether the user manipulates the operating key thatcorresponds to the stop function which is allocated as one of the keycode data written in the SLIDE section (step S916). When the operatingkey corresponding to the stop function (e.g., a key 7 in FIG. 4) ismanipulated, the timer is halted (step S917) At this time, the displaypicture screen is unchanged, and the automatic switching the displaypicture screens according to passage of time is not performed.

Then, when an operating key corresponding to the start function (a key 5in FIG. 4) is manipulated, the timer is restarted (steps S918 and S919).

Thereafter, when the operating key corresponding to the restart function(a key 9 in FIG. 4) is manipulated, the CPU 109 resets the timer countvalue and returns to step S901 to repeat the above processing (stepsS920 and S921). Therefore, when a restart instruction is issued, theseries of reproduction procedure according to the reproduction proceduremanagement file is repeated from the beginning.

When an operating key corresponding to an end function (not shown inFIG. 4; however, this function can be allocated for an arbitraryoperating key on the remote controller 114) is manipulated, the CPU 109halts the display operation, and terminates the processing. But when nooperating key is manipulated, the CPU 109 returns to step S912 andrepeats the processing.

When, in accordance with the contents of the reproduction managementfile, the reproduction operation is controlled in this manner, thedisplay picture screens can be automatically switched in accordance withthe display layout written in the individual SLIDE sections, and slidereproduction, whereby images recorded on the memory card M aredisplayed, can be provided.

As is described above, according to this embodiment, when the procedureof the slide reproduction of image data stored on a memory card are tobe designated, slide pictures are generated by automatically selectingone of display layouts that have been prepared in advance, in accordancewith the number of display pictures selected by a user. Therefore, sincethe user need only select a desired image to be displayed, the procedurefor the reproduction of slides can be easily set.

Further, since the reproduction functions corresponding to theindividual slide pictures are allocated to the operating keys of theremote controller and this allocation is written into the reproductionprocedure management file, the user who employs the remote controllerfor slide reproduction can easily identify the operating keys to whichthe reproduction functions have been allocated. As a result, variousreproduction functions can be performed by using the remote controller.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the registered file whichdesignates the image file to be used for slide reproduction, and thereproduction procedure management file which designates the procedure tobe used for reproducing individual slides, are both stored on the memorycard, even a receiver other than the one for which the reproductionprocedure is set up can employ that procedure to perform slidereproduction, without a new reproduction procedure setup being required.

A second embodiment will now be described.

In the first embodiment, for the reproduction of each slide, the imagedata read out from the memory card are decoded and the decoded imagedata are written into the still image plane in the video memory 107.

When all the slide display data are to be displayed using only the stillimage plane, however, since the entire screen can not be displayed onthe display device during the period in which image data read out fromthe memory card are being written into the still image plane, the imagedisplay is essentially delayed.

An explanation will now be given for a method whereby such a displaydelay period is reduced by using multiple planes which are adopted basedon the BS digital television broadcast receiver standards.

The system configuration is the same as the one shown in FIG. 1, and thesetting up of reproduction procedure and the contents of the registeredfile and the reproduction procedure management file are also aspreviously described.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration for a graphic processingunit 106, a video memory 107 and peripheral circuits.

In FIG. 11, a writing control unit 1101 controls the writing of data foreach plane of the video memory 107. A scaling processing unit 1102changes the size of image data received from an image decoding unit1103, which mainly decodes still image file data. A switching unit 1104selects either image data received from a moving image plane 1109 orimage data received from a still image plane 1110, and outputs theselected image data. α blending units 1105 and 1107 control the levelsof input data to synthesize images. And adders 1106 and 1108 add datareceived from a character and graphic plane 1112 to data received from asubtitle plane 1113.

The video memory 107 includes five planes of the moving image plane1109, the still image plane 1110 and a moving image and still imageswitching plane 1111, the character and graphic plane 1112 and thesubtitle plane 1113.

While referring to the flowchart in FIGS. 10A and 10B, an explanationwill now be given for the processing performed in this configuration togenerate a display picture screen using the graphic processing unit 106and the video memory 107.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flowcharts showing the reproduction operation ofthis embodiment. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, mainly, the display picturescreen generation is described, and no explanation is given for thedisplay switching process using the timer count value, and thereproduction halting, starting and restarting processes performed uponreceiving instructions issued using the operating keys. However, the CPU109 always monitors the timer count value and each instruction issuedusing an operating key, and employs an interrupt process to control theoperations.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the processes at steps S1001 to S1010 are the sameas those in FIGS. 9A and 9B. As is described above, the image file to beused for the selected SLIDE section is determined, and as at step S911,the CPU 109 detects the layout No. (step S1011). Then, the CPU 109 readsout from the flash ROM 110 the display resolution and the number ofcolors that correspond to the layout No. (step S1012).

Following this, a check is performed to determine whether the displayresolution and the number of colors that are thus obtained are smallerthan the display resolution and the number of colors that are availablefor the selected plane (e.g., the still image plane 1110) (step S1013).

When the display resolution and the number of colors are smaller thanthose for the selected plane, the image data read out from the memorycard M are decoded. In this embodiment, the image decoding unit 1103decodes the image file read out from the memory card M; however, as inthe previous embodiment, the AV decoder 105 may decode the image dataand transmit the decoded image data to the scaling processing unit 1102,which may then change the size.

The scaling processing unit 1102 converts the image data obtained by theimage decoding unit 1103 into the size defined by the layout No., andthe writing control unit 1101 writes the obtained data to the selectedplane (step S1014).

Further, the value of data to be written into the moving image and stillimage switching plane 1111, the switching unit 1104 and the a blendingunits 1105 and 1107 are controlled so as to output the image data of theselected plane to the display device (step S1015).

The moving image and still image switching plane 1111 has a depth of onebit and the same resolution (the same number of pixels) as the movingimage plane 1109 and the still image plane 1110. When data bits “1” and“0” that are to be written into addresses corresponding to theindividual pixels are switched therebetween, the image data transmittedfrom the moving image plane 1109 or the image data transmitted from thestill image plane 1110 is selected and output by the switching unit 1104for each pixel.

For example, when the image data transmitted from the still image plane1110 is to be selected and output, the one bit data “0” is written intothe address of a pixel corresponding to the image data portion. At thistime, the α blending units 1105 and 1107 are so set that they can outputthe image data received from the switching unit 1104 without changingthe data level.

Furthermore, when image data from the character and graphic plane 1112are to be output, regardless of whether the image data from the movingimage plane 1109 or the image data from the still image plane 1110 areselected by the switching unit 1104, the operation of the a blendingunit 1105 is controlled so that the value of the data received from theswitching unit 1104 is reset to 0, while the a blending unit 1107 iscontrolled so that the data received from the adder 1106 is outputunchanged. As a result, the image data from the character and graphicplane 1112 can be output.

Next, the variable sn is incremented by one (step S1016), and theobtained variable sn is compared with a predetermined value SN-1. Whenthe variable sn and the predetermined value SN-1 match, the processingis terminated (step S1017). When the variable sn does not match SN-1,however, the plane into which image data is next to be written ischanged (step S1021), and a check is performed to determine whetherimage data that has not yet been displayed have already been written tothe altered plane (step S1022). When the current plane is not empty,this plane is changed to another one, and the same decision process isperformed. But when the current plane is an empty plane, program controlreturns to step S1003 and the display picture screen is generated basedon the next SLIDE section.

In this embodiment, when the currently selected plane is the movingimage plane 1109 the still image plane 1110 is selected, and when thecurrently selected plane is the still image plane 1110 the character andgraphic plane 1112 is selected.

When at step S1013 the resolution and the number of colors designatedaccording to a layout No. are greater than the resolution and the numberof colors for the selected plane, the image can not be displayed and theselected plane is changed to another, such as the character and graphicplane 1112 or the subtitle plane 1113 (steps S1018 and S1020). Then,when the newly selected plane is still not satisfactory, the displayresolution and the number of colors are changed (step S1019).

As is described above, according to this embodiment, since the displaypicture screen for the slide reproduction is generated by using not onlythe still image plane but also the other memory planes in the videomemory 107, the next screen can be generated in advance without waitingfor the display picture screens to be switched. Therefore, as soon asthe display picture screens are switched, the next screen can bedisplayed.

In the receiver shown in FIG. 11, the plane used for slide reproductionis selected in accordance with the BS digital broadcasting standards inJapan. However, when the broadcast reception standards differ from theBS digital broadcast standards, a plane to be used need only be selectedin accordance with the pertinent standards.

For example, in FIG. 1, in accordance with the output of thedemultiplexer 104, the CPU 109 detects the data of the broadcaststandards received from the broadcast station.

Then, based on the data of the broadcast standards, the CPU 109 changesthe setting of a plane to which data are to be written during slidereproduction.

For example, for the BS digital broadcast reception standards in Japan,the digital image data used for slide reproduction are written into thestill image plane, the moving image plane and the character and graphicplane.

For the corresponding standards in Europe, the α blending values for theindividual planes are controlled to switch image data of slides so thatonly the moving image plane and the still image plane are used for slidereproduction.

With this configuration, even a receiver compatible with standardsdiffering from the broadcast reception standards in Japan canappropriately control the memory to reproduce slides.

In the above embodiments, image data stored on a memory card arereproduced using slides. However, the present invention can also beapplied for the reproduction of image data stored on another recordingmedium.

Further, a recording medium, such as a CD-ROM, on which a program isstored that permits a CPU to implement the above functions, is alsoincluded within the scope of the present invention, and the same effectscan be provided.

Many widely different embodiments of the present invention may beconstructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. It should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the specific embodiments described in the specification,except as defined in the appended claims.

1.-23. (canceled)
 24. A signal processing method of continuouslyreproducing a plurality of image data stored on a recording medium, ontoa plurality of slide screens, comprising the steps of: selecting atleast one image data to be displayed on each of the plurality of slidescreens, from among the plurality of image data stored on the recordingmedium in accordance with a user operation; setting a display layoutcorresponding to the number of the image data selected in said selectingstep, from among a plurality of display layouts prepared in advance; andreading out a plurality of image data stored on the recording medium andcontinuously reproducing the plurality of read-out image data onto theplurality of slide screens in accordance with the display layouts set insaid setting step.
 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein saidsetting step includes setting display size and display position of eachof the plurality of image data to be displayed on each of the pluralityof slide screens.
 26. A method according to claim 24, wherein saidsetting step is arranged to set the display layout in such a manner thata plurality of candidates of the display layout corresponding to theimage data selected in said selecting step are displayed and the displaylayout is selected from among the plurality of displayed candidates inaccordance with the user operation.
 27. A signal processing apparatusfor continuously reproducing a plurality of image data stored on arecording medium, onto a plurality of slide screens, comprising: aselecting unit which selects at least one image data to be displayed oneach of the plurality of slide screens, from among the plurality ofimage data stored on the recording medium in accordance with a useroperation; a setting unit which sets a display layout corresponding tothe number of the image data selected by said selecting unit, from amonga plurality of display layouts prepared in advance; and a reproducingunit which reads out a plurality of image data stored on the recordingmedium and continuously reproduces the plurality of read-out image dataonto the plurality of slide screens in accordance with the displaylayouts set by said setting unit.
 28. An apparatus according to claim27, wherein said setting unit is arranged to set display size anddisplay position of each of the plurality of image data to be displayedon each of the plurality of slide screens.
 29. An apparatus according toclaim 28, wherein said setting unit is arranged to set the displaylayout in such a manner that a plurality of candidates of the displaylayout corresponding to the image data selected by said selecting unitare displayed and the display layout is selected from among theplurality of displayed candidates in accordance with the user operation.